The new Coronavirus or Covid 19 is the real deal and many experts are calling it now a pandemic.

It's about three times more infectious than influenza. When there is community spreading eg in Northern Italy and South Korea, the situation is serious.

Soccer games were called off in northern Italy. Many towns are in lockdown. Extreme measure are being taken in South Korea. Various big conferences around the world have been cancelled. There is speculation about the Tokyo Olympics.

Standard operating procedure is banning large gatherings of people.

While known cases here are low and relate to travelling in China or that dodgy cruise ship, my best guess is that the virus is quietly circulating in Sydney and Melbourne following the return of 1500 Chinese union students. It's only a matter of time before it takes off here.

Could the 2020 AFL season be called off?